Fishing Guns

[ACP230]

I went on a short fishing trip this morning.
Besides the usual reason to be armed (see my signature) there are bears in the area. I took two revolvers.

The first was a Smith M28 four-inch. It used to be a cop gun in Pueblo, Colorado, before I got it from KY Imports. I carried it in open in a Ted Blocker thumb break holster which carries the gun high and tight to my side. Load was 125 grain Black Hills .357 Magnum rounds. I'd have taken 158 grain Magnums, but couldn't find them in the rush to get out of the house. I figured the 125 grain loads would do OK in a pinch.

The second revolver was a Smith M649 .38 Special carried concealed. Load was Cor-Bon 110 grain DPX, my usual carry load. It's my favorite snubby, and my "almost always" gun.

It was a nice morning. A couple of ducks swam back and forth on the pond. My son and I got a few bites but caught no trout. My wife picked a handfull of blackberries proving that the season for them is effectively over. Some trees were turning color and it felt like fall until it warmed up around 11.

Got home in time for lunch. Had no reason to draw either gun, but no reason to leave them at home either.

 

[fisherman66]

I've never shot at fish, but I have hit a few turtles. You may want to check the fishing guidelines. We can't fish like that in TX.

Joking aside. I think the 357 is the premier handgun/load for outdoormen in the lower 48.

 

[jacobtowne]

"I've never shot at fish. "

Well, I have, sort of. Back when I was a boy (and that was a while ago) and we had Daisy BB guns, we used to shoot tadpoles sunning themselves on rocks a few inches below the surface near the shore of a small pond (yes, a mill pond, not a lake). It was just a matter of hanging over the water and getting the gun at just the right angle to the water.....

On topic, I'd feel a lot better with a .44 or .45.

JT

 

[Gordon]

I used to shoot carp surfacing in the Snake River in souther Idaho/Nev. border.

 

[rico700]

Have had the opportunity to shoot carp here in the Dakotas as well. Still manage to get out once in a while but usually with bow and arrow these days.

If bears are are concern is the 38 or 357 enough to stop or discourage a bear????

 

[ACP230]

I know folks who have killed bears with .357s, so I believe I could discourage one with the M28.

I was going to haul my .41 Magnum Smith M58 but the M28 was easier to grab.

Various 125 grain .357 loads have excellent records on predators of the human variety.

 

[GUNKWAZY]

Oh yea... the Poe-Peal-pocket-fishergun.

Who needs a net ?

Although, It's the end of catch & release.

Jeff (GUNKWAZY)

 

[kumma]

I went fishing as well on 9/5, Otter lake & Sturgon river in Baraga. I had my sp-101 with me loaded with golden sabres. Not worried so much about bears but the 2 legged predator. Being in an out of the way spot with out any protection is just asking for trouble. Where did you cast a line?

 

[Dr.Rob]

I bought my Colt Magnum Carry to be my fishing/backpacking gun.
'
Six rounds of 158gr Hydra Shocks... serious business.

And you could shoot a fish with it in a pinch.

 

[Elmer]

You might want to look for something other than 125 jhp's next time..... the bear might not know he was shot with those.....

158 hard cast or something like them...

 

[Vern Humphrey]

I've never shot at fish,

After World War One, a lot of boys from the hills in western Virginia brought back some 'a them knob-action guns. Now, until then folks in the hills used lever actions and even muzzle loaders, so them knob-action Springfields and Mausers were a revelation, and the boys did some experimenting with them.

They found you can climb a tree and look down and spot them big ol' bass and blow 'em right of the water.

Some of the western counties of Virginia have a fish-shooting season on the books to this day.

 

[HiWayMan]

Elmer

+1

 

[SACOLT]

One of my favorite outdoor guns is a Blackhawk 41 Maggie with 4 3/4 barrel. With the 210 gr hard cast bullets. carried in a Tommy Threeperson replica holster.

 

[Moonclip]

I always though a 4" 629 magnaported would be an excellent, versatile outdoor, fishing gun if someone does not mind the weight.

 

[svtruth]

Shooting fish

Vermont has (IIRC) a season for shooting pike.

 

[GunGoBoom]

I believe Duvall and Caine preferred the 12 ga in "Secondhand Lions".